Machine for fastening spring strips to construction frames



June 15, 19 2s.

1,589,116 W. S. COSTIGAN MACHINE FOR FASTENING SPRING STRIPS TO CONSTRUCTION FRAMES Filed May 27,

5 Sheets-Sheet l June 15 1926.

' W. s. COSTIGAN MACHINE FOR FASTENING SPRING STRIPS TO CONSTRUCTION FRAMES Filed May 2'7, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 n .M o

a G 9 O 0 o O G o O O Q G 1.....0 L M .w i l T 0 0 a o 0 o 0 0 o e o G 0.... o...0

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 w. s. COSTIGAN Filed May 27, 1924 June 15 1926.

MACHINE FOR FASTENING SPRING STRIPS TO CONSTRUCTION FRAMES June 15 1926.

W. S. CQSTIGAN MACHINE FOR FASTENING SPRING STRIPS TO CONSTRUCTION FRAMES Filed May 27, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 15, 1926. 1,589,116

w. SCOSTIGAN MACHINE FOR FASTENING SPRING STRIPS TO CONSTRUCTION FRAMES Filed May 27. 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented June 15, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICEQ WESLEY S. COS'IIGAN, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO REYNOLDS SPRING COMPANY, OF JACKSQN, MICHIGAN.

MACHINE FOR FASTENING SPRING STRIPS T0 CDNS'IRUCTION FRAMES.

Application filed May 27,

The invention relates to a machine for fastening spring strips to frames.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple, practical and efiicient machine for assembling spring strips to marginal frames in the manufacture of spring constructions for automobile and various other seats and cushions and to provide a simple, practical and eflicient machine-adapted to be readily applied to a bench and capable of enabling the marginal frames to be clamped around the lower coils of the springs in a rapid, efficient and secure manner and with a minimum amount of labor on the part of the operator.

It is also an object of the invention to enable spring strips to be applied to fran'ies having S-bars and to clamp the upper loop of the $-bars around the bottom coils of the springs without mashing the lower loops of the said bars.

Another object of the invention is to 'enable the spring strips to be'assembled on a form in the required size and shape and to r be easily manipulated without removing the marginal frame from the clamping means until every marginal spring is clamped within the frame by crimping the same around the bottom coils.-

ith these and other objects in view the invention consists inthe construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, itbeing understood that various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction, within the scope of theclaims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a crimping machine constructed in accordance with this invention. 1

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the crimping mechanism.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail plan view illustrating the manner of mounting the supporting member for the jaws and the arrangement of the lower crimping jaw.

construction 7 1924. Serial No. 716,229.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 of Fig. 4. Figure 7 1s a detail view of the connecting member. V

Figure 8 is a plan View of a portion of I the completed spring construction. Figure 9 is a plan view of the movable form illustrating the arrangement of the spring strips on the locating posts.

7 In the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, the machine for fastening spring strips to construction frames comprises in its construction an inclined support and guide comprisin'ga series of inclined transversely disposed angle bars 1, extending upwardly and rearwardly from bottom horizontal transversely disposed bars 2 and supported at their rear ends by vertical posts 3. I

The inclined bars 1, which extend upwardly from the front of a bench 4 are secured at their front ends to the front of the horizontal bars 2 and the supporting posts 3 which are located at the back of the inclined support and guide are suitably secured at their ends to the said bars 1 and 2. Angle bars 1 have one of their wings or flanges fitted against the bars 21 and the posts3, and the other wing or flange is arranged 111 an inclined plane and forms a support vfor longitudinal connect- 7 ing bars 5 which are suitably secured to. the

upper faces of the inclined webs or flanges of the bars 1 and have their upper faces arranged in the same inclined plane. The longitudinal connecting bars 5 are provided at intervals with hearing ballet forming anti-friction supports for a slidable form 7 which is movable longitudinally of the inclined guide and support. -The form 7 which rests upon the balls 6 is maintained by gravity in proper position atthe front of the machine and the combined guide and support is provided at the front with, an angle bar 8 L-shaped in cross section similar to the said anglebars 1 and having one of its wings or flangessecured to the upper flanges of the inclined bars 1. The other wing or flange of the angle bar 8 extends upwardly at a slight inclination or angle perpendicular to the plane of the inclined faces of the upper flanges of the inclined bars 2.

The upwardly extending flange 8 supports a channel bar 9 in which are mounted rollers 10, which form abutments for the front of the form 7 and limit the downward and forward movement of said form so as to maintain the form in proper position with relation to upper and lower crimping jaws 11 and 12.

The channel bar 9 is secured to the inner face of the upwardly extending flange of the angle bar 8 and the parallel flanges of the channel bar extend upwardly and rearwardly as clearly illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing and provide a channel or groove for the rollers 10, which are mounted on suitable pins or pivots and which project slightly beyond the rear edges of the flanges of the channel bar to prevent the form 7 from coming in contact with'the said flanges. The L-shaped bar and the channel bar are cut away at the center to provide a space for a supporting member of block 13.

The support or block 13 is mounted upon a plate 14 extending across the space between two of the inclined bars 1 and secured at its ends to angle bars 15 having laterally extending bottom flanges arranged to support the said plate 14. The supporting block 13 which; is provided with a depending front outer portion 16, is preferably bolted to the plate 14 and the sections of the front angle bar 8 and the channel bar 9, abut against the side faces of the block 13 and assist in holding the same against lateral movement. The lower crimping aw 12 projects rearwardly from the aw member 17, which is provided with laterally extending flanges 18 secured to the upper face of the block 13. The upper face of the block 13 is recessed at its rear portion at 19 to increase the clearance of the slidable form and the jaw member is tapered upwardly as clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawing and is provided at the top portion with a transverse opening in which is mounted a transverse pin 20 forming a pivot for the upper jaw member 21. The lower crimping jaw is provided in its upper face with a recess 22 and conforms to the configuration of and forms a seat for the upper loop 23 of the marginal frame 24 which is composed of S-bars, the lower jaw being received within the lower loop 25 of the S-bar, which after being placed in proper position on the lower jaw remains in such position until all of the marginal springs 26 have been secured to the marginal frame. The upper jaw is recessed at its lower face at 27 to conform to the configuration of the upper loop of the S-bar and it is provided of greater width than the lower jaw member is provided at its lower face with an inner recess 32 to receive the upper portion of the lower jaw member and the sides or flanges 33 formed by the recess 32 are pierced by the pivot 20 whereby the upper jaw member 21 is fulcrumed on the lower jaw member and operates as a lever in the crimping action of the machine in bending the upper loop of the S-bar on the bottom coil of the spring 26. The upper jaw which is removable from the upper aw member is securely retained in place thereon by means of a screw 34 piercing the shank of the upper jaw and engaging a threaded opening formed in the upper aw member 21 at the bottom of the groove 29. This will enable the upper jaw 11 to be readily detached when desired.

The outer portion of the upper jaw member 21 is extended downwardly and bifurcated at to receive the upper end of a link 37 which connects the upper jaw member with a vertically movable slide 38. T he slide 38 is movable vertically in an opening 39 in the outer portion of the block 13 and its upper and lower ends 40 and 41 are bifurcated to receive the lower end of the link 37 and the outer end of a connecting lever 42. The ends of the link 37 are coni'iected to the jaw member 21 in the upper bifurcation 36 thereof and to the slide 38 in the upper bifurcated end 40 of the same by transverse pins or pivots 43 and 4.4.

The connecting lever 42 is mounted in a depending portion 43 of the block 13 and it extends forwardly and reaiuvardly therefrom, the depending portion 43 being slotted or bifurcated for the reception of the lever 42 and carrying a horizontal pin or pivot 44 forming a fulcrum for the lever 42. The outer end of the lever 42 is pivoted by a pin 45 in the lower bifurcated end of the slide 38 and the inner end of the connecting lever 42 is slotted or bifurcated to receive the upper end of a connecting rod which extends downwardly from the connecting lever to a foot lever 4-7. The inner hifur cated or slotted end 48 of the connecting lever is pierced by transverse pins and 50, the pin 49 forming a. pivot for connecting the upper end of the rod 46 to the lever 42. The other pin 50 connects the lower end of coiled spring 51 to the rear end of the connecting lever. This spring 51 extends through an opening 52 in the inner portion of the block 13 and is secured at its upper end to the same by a transverse pin 53 which spansthe opening 52 and is arranged in perforated ears 54c projecting from the block 13 at opposite sides of the opening 52. The rod 46 is provided with a turn-buckle 55 and a lock nut 56 for adjusting the rod to the required length and the spring operation to maintain the foot lever 47 normally in an elevated position to enable the said foot lever to be readily depressed by the foot of the operator to close the crimping jaws on the work and crimp the upper loop of the S-bar around the bottom coil of the spring 26.

The slidable form 7 which is oblong to conform to the configurationof the spring structure for an automobile seat, may, of course, be of any desired configuration to adapt it for holding springs for a spring structure of any desiredsize or shape and the said form 7 is provided at the front and rear portions with spaced parallel lo *ating posts 57 preferably composed of a cylindrical lower portion 58 and a tapered upper portion and provided with base flanges 59. The base flanges 59 are pierced by suitable fastening devices for securing the locating posts on the form 7. The form 7 preferably consists of a metallic bottom 60 and a Wooden frame 61 arranged upon the bottom 60 which is provided with a marginal flange ('32 forming a metallic binding for the Wooden frame to which the locating posts are secured. The locating posts may be varied in number and position to support the springs and position the same as required, and the spring strips each consist of a row of springs connected together by U-bars crimped on the bottom coils of the springs (l l. A U-bar is located at each side of each row of springs except the end rows to which the marginal frame is secured, thereby rendering a U-bar at that side of the spring strip unnecessary as clearly illustrated in Figure 8 of the drawings. The marginal springs are placed on the locating posts and the lower loop of the marginal frame is placed on the loWer crimping jaw and is not removed therefrom until all spring strips are attached to the frame. The marginal frame is located by hand until it is attached to a sufiicient number of springs to render further locating by hand unnecessary. form with the springs and the marginal frame may be readily removed along the inclined support until the springs at one side of the form are crimped to the frame and the form is then partially rotated to bring the springsat one end of the form in position for attachment to the end of the marginal frame and when. such end is completed, the form is again partially rotated to bring the unattached side to the front. This operation is continued until all The the springs have beensecured in the upper loop of the marginal frame by crimping the same around the bottom coils of the springs. Forms of various sizes and shapes may be arranged on the inclined support and may be readily moved over the same to bring the marginal springs successively into position to be operated on by the crimping jaws. The machine is of a construction particularly adapted for crimping the marginal frames around the bottom coils of the springs of spring strips where the parts are assembled and operated on at dilferent portions of the same bench and the machine may be readily mounted on a bench for use in conjunction with other devices in the manufacture of spring structures. The combined inclined support and guide operates to maintain the form in proper position at the front of the machine by gravity and at the same time permits ready movement of the form in adjusting the same to bring the springs successively in position for the operation of the machine.

The bench 4. may be of any desired size and construction to adapt the same to the size of the crimping machine and the reception of other mechanism for operating on the spring structures. The foot lever 4( is fulcrumed in a suitable support 65'and is provided at its outer end with a foot plate 66'adapted to be readily depressed by the operator to actuate the upper crimping jaw.

Vi hat is claimed is:

l. A machine of the character described including a crimping mechanism adapted to crimp a marginal frame on the coils of border springs, a form movable by gravity to the crimping mechanism and adapted to carry springs, said form being also freely movable laterally of the crimping mechanism whereby to crimp one spring after another to the marginal frame.

' 2. A machine of the character described including a single crimping mechanism adapted to crimp a marginal frame on the coils of bordersprings, a support, a form movable on the support intov cooperative relation with the said crimping mechanism and adapted to carry springs, said form being also movable laterally of the crimping mechanism whereby to crimp one spring after another to the marginal frame through the instrumentality of the one crimping mechanism.

3. A machine ofthe character described including a crimping mechanism adapted to crimp a marginal S-shaped frame on the base coils of springs, said crimping mechanism including aws cooperating to embrace the upper loop of the S-shaped frame, means movable by gravity to carry the springs to said jaws, and means to operate said jaws to crimp the loop onto the base coils of the springs.

- ate &

4. A machine of the character described including a single crimping mechanism adapted to crimp a marginal Sshaped frame member on the base coils of the springs, said crimping mechanism including cooperating jaws to embrace the upper loop of the iii-shaped frame member, means movable toward the crimping mechanism and also movable laterally of the crimping mechanism whereby to present the springs one after another and said upper loop at the point of crimping operation, and means to operate said jaws to effect crimping of the frame member onto the respective springs.

5. A machine of the character described mcluding a single crin'iping mechanism having crimping jaws adapted to crimp a marginal S-shaped frame on the base coils of the border springs, the jaws embracing the upper loop of the -shaped frame and between which jaws the frame is slidably maintained until all border springs are crimped to the frame, a support, a form movable freely on the support to present the springs one after another and said upper loop of the frame at the point of crimping operation, and means whereby to opersaid jaws to crimp the frame to the springs one after another.

6. A machine of the class described including crimping mechanism including jaws adapted to crimp a marginal frame on the coils of border springs of a spring structure, a support adjacent the crimping mechanism, a form on said support and adapted to carry the marginal frame and the springs and movable over the support with the marginal frame maintained slidably on one of the crimping jaws and to bring one spring after another into position with relation to said jaws whereby to crimp one spring after another to the marginal frame without removing the latter from the jaw on which the frame slides.

7. A machine of the class described including crimping mechanism having upper and lower jaws, a movable form provided with front and rear rows of spaced locating posts having cylindrical lower portions and tapered upper portions and adapted to receive and support springs and means for supporting the form to permit the same to be moved about to present springs successively to the jaws for crimping a marginal frame on the springs.

8. A machine of the class described including crimping mechanism having upper and lower jaws, an inclined guide and support located adjacent to the crimping mechanism and form arranged at an inclination and slidable over the said support and guide and adapted to be maintained by gravity adjacent to the crimping mechanism, said form being movable freely over the combined guide and support to present marginal springs successively to the crimping mechanism to enable a frame to be crimped on the springs.

9. A machine of the class described including crimping mechanism having upper and lower jaws, a combined guide and support composed of spaced bars having upwardly projecting anti-friction devices and provided also at the front with an abutment having anti-friction levices and a form supported by the combined guide and support and movable freely over the same to carry springs successively to the crimping aws.

10. A machine of the class described including crimping mechanism having upper and lower jaws, a combined guide and support located adjacent the crimping mechanism and arranged at an inclination and provided at the front with an abutment, said support being provided with projecting anti-friction devices, and a form supported by the anti-fricticn devices and maintained by gravity normally in contact with the anti-friction devices of the abutment and provided with spring supporting means, said form being movable freely over the combined guide and support to successively present springs to the crin'iping jaws.

11. A machine of the class described including crimping mechanism having upper and lower jaws, a combined guide and support comprising spaced transversely disposed inclined bars extending upwardly and rearwardly from the crimping mechanism,

longitudinal connecting bars secured to the inclined bars, a front bar also connecting the inclined bars and forming an abutment, and rear posts supporting the rear ends of the inclined bars, and a form having spring supporting means and supported by the longitudinal bars and movable freely over the same to successively present springs to the said jaws, said form being normally maintained by gravity in contact with the said abutment.

12. A machine of the class described including crimping mechanism having upper and lower jaws, a combined guide and support con'iprising inclined bars extending upwardly and rearwardly from the crimping mechanism, longitudinal bars spaced apart and connecting the inclined bars, and a front abutment consisting of an angle bar connecting the inclined bars and a channel bar supported by the angle ha ant-i-fric-- tion rollers moui'ited in the channel bar, and a form movable over the longitudii'lal bars and normally maintained by gravity in contact with the said anti-friction devices and provided with spring supporting means,

said form being adapted to carry springs successively to the crimping mechanism.

13. A maclnne of the class described 1ncluding a combined guide and support composed of spaced transverse bars and spaced longitudinal bars connecting the transverse bars, a block mounted between two of the transverse bars, a divided abutment arranged at the front of the combined guide and support and located at opposite sides of the said block, upper and lower aws c ar ried by the said block, a form having spring supporting means and movable cover thecombined guide and support to successively present springs to the said jaws, and means for operating the jaws. R

14. A machine ofthe. class described including a combined guide and support, a form having spring supporting means and movable over the combined guide and support, a block located adjacent the front of the combined guide andsupport, a lower jaw member secured to the said block and having a lower projecting jaw extending toward the said form, a movable jaw meme ber pivoted to the lower jaw member and having an upper jaw arranged to cooperate with the lower jaw to crimp a frame on a spring carried by the said form, and means for operating the aws.

15. A machine of the class described including a combined guide and support, a form movable overthe combined guide and support and having spring supporting means, a lower fixed jaw memberhaving a jaw projecting toward the said form, an upper jaw member pivoted to the lower jaw member and provided with a projecting jaw arranged to cooperate with the lower jaw to crimp a frame on springs carried by the said form, and means for operating the jaws.

16. A machine of the class described including a combined guide and support, a form movable over the combined guide and support and having spring supporting means, a lower relatively fixed jaw member having a jaw projecting towards the said form, an upper jaw member pivoted to the lower jaw member and provided with an upper jaw extending over the lower jaw member and arranged to cooperate therewith to crimp a frame on springs carried by the form, a vertically movable slide connected with the upper jaw member, and operating mechanism connected with the slide for actuating the upper jaw in the crimping operation.

17. A machine of the class described including a combined guide and support, a form movable over the guide and support and having spring supporting means, a lower relatively fixed jaw member having a jaw projecting towards the form and adapted to extend into the lower loop of an S-bar and having a seat at its upper face to fit and receive the adjacent portion of the said lower loop, an upper jaw member pivoted to the lower jaw member and having a projectingjaw recessed at its lower face to fit the upper loop of the said S-bar and adapted to cooperate with the lower jaw to crimp the said upperloop on a coil of a spring, and means for operating the j aws.

18. A machine of the class described in-" luding a combined guide and support, a form movable over the guide and support and having spring supporting means, a lower relatively fixed jaw member having a thereof whereby the upper jaw is slidably interlocked with the upper jaw member,-

means for securingthe shank in the groove, and means for operating the upper jaw,

' 19. A machine of the class described in cluding a combined guide and support, a

form movable over the same and having spring supporting means, a block provided with an inner attaching portion, a lower jaw member rigid with the block and having a' projecting lower jaw extending toward the said form, an upper jaw member pivoted to the lower jaw member and having an upper jaw cooperating with the said lower jaw, a vertically movable slide guided in the said block, a link connection between theslide and the upper jaw, and means for aotuating the slide. I 20. A machine of the class described in cluding a combined guide and support, a form movable over the same and having spring supporting means, a block provided with an inner attaching portion, a lower jaw member rigid with the block and having a projecting lower jaw extending toward the said form, an upper jaw member pivoted to the lower jaw member and having an upper jaw cooperating with the said lower jaw, a vertically movable slide guided in the said block, a link connection between the slide and the upper jaw, a connecting lever fulcrumed intermediate of its ends and connected at one end with the said slide, an operating lever connected with the other end of the said lever and a spring connected with the latter for maintaining the upper jaw normally away from the lower jaw.

21. A machine of the class described including a supporting block, a lower jaw member rigid with the block and having a projecting lower jaw, an upper jaw member pivoted to the lower jaw member and having a jaw cooperating with the said lower jaw, a vertically movable slide guided in the block, and connected with the movable jaw member, a connecting lever located below and pivoted to the block and connected at one end with the said slide, a spring connected with the other end of the said lever and with the block, and operating mechanism for actuating the said lever.

22. A machine of the class described including a supporting block provided with inner and outer openings, a fixed lower jaw member mounted on the block between the said openings and having a projecting jaw, an upper jaw member pivoted to the lower jaw member and having a jaw co operating with the said lower jaw, a slide mounted in the outer opening, a link connecting the upper end of the slide with the upper jaw member, a lever pivoted to the block below the same and connected with the lower end of the said slide, a spring mounted in the inner opening and connected with the said lever, a foot lever, and means for connecting the foot lever with the said lever.

23. A machine of the character described, including a single crimping mechanism having upper and lower jaws and adapted to crimp a marginal spring structure frame on the border coils of said structure, a support, a device movable freely on the support and adapted to receive said frame and carry said springs, said frame being .maintained in slidable engagement with the lower jaw, said device being movable to slide said marginal frame over said lower jaw and to present one spring at a time to said jaws and to that portion of said frame immediately between said jaws whereby to crimp the frame at spaced points to the springs one after another, and means to operate the jaws to effect said crimping operations.

sent various springs to the fastening mechanism, said support being inclined towards the fastening mechanism to cause the frame to gravitate toward the same.

25. A machine of the character described including a crimping mechanism having upper and lower jaws and adapted to crimp a marginal spring structure sheet metal frame on the border coils of said structure, a support, a device movable freely on the support and adapted to rest normally adjacent said crimping mechanism and adapted to receive said frame and carry isaid springs, said frame being maintained in slidable engagement with one of the jaws of the crimping device, said device being movable to slide said marginal frame over said jaw and present one spring at a time to said jaws whereby to crimp the frame at spaced points to the springs one after another, and means to operate the jaws to effect said crimping operation, said device being movable to turn at its corners without disengaging the spring structure frame from said jaw so as to present different rows of springs to the action of the crimping mechanism.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WESLEY S. COSTIGAN. 

